Method of and apparatus for closing a foldable carton



July 14, 1964 R. J. HlCKlN METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING A F'OLDABLE CARTON 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 20, 1962 INVENTOR. Bberlfd Mall) R. J. HlCKlN July 14, 1964 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING A FOLDABLE CARTON Filed'Aug. 20, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 14, 1964 J cK 3,140,570

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING A FOLDABLE CARTON Filed Aug. 20, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Faber? (X A4561: 5/7

R. J. HlCKlN METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING A FOLDABLE CARTON Filed Aug. 20, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 14, 1964 R J cK 3,140,570

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING A FOLDABLE CARTON Filed Aug. 20, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 lull INVENTOR. Faber?- d fizzy? R. J. HICKIN July 14, 1964 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING A FOLDABLE CARTON 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 20, 1962 INVENTOR. Eberfd M23447 United States Patent 3,140,570 METHOD OF AND APIARATUS FUR CLOSING A FOLDABLE CARTON Robert J. Hickin, Seville, ()hio, assignor to Packaging Corporation of America, Dover, Del., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 217,969 Claims. (Cl. 53-38) This invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for closing a foldable carton.

In numerous types of foldable cartons, such as elongated cartons used for the packaging of donuts and the like, the closing thereof, except in relatively few very large production commercial bakeries has heretofore been accomplished either manually or by semi-automatic equipment, the latter being costly, bulky in size, of complex operation, and/or difficult to service and maintain. Because of these aforenoted shortcomings which have beset such prior equipment, the latter have had very limited commercial acceptance.

In the packaging of donuts in foldable cartons of the elongated type, for example, care must be exercised in avoiding damage to the accommodated donuts, such as by scufiing the end surfaces of the end donuts or the peripheries of all the donuts, when the carton cover is moved to its closed position.

Thus, it is one of the objects of this invention to provide a method of and an apparatus for closing a foldable carton, which are not beset with the aforenoted shortcomings of the prior art.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus for closing a foldable carton which is adapted to readily and expeditiously accommodate cartons of various sizes.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an apparatus for closing a foldable carton which is of simple, inexpensive, compact and sturdy construction, efficient and automatic in operation, and capable in most instances of adequately serving the needs of either the high, average, or low volume packager.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention an apparatus is provided for closing a foldable carton, such as an elongated donut box. The carton includes a bottom section having front and rear walls and interlocking end walls foldably connected to said front and rear walls and cooperating therewith to form a receptacle in which the contents are accommodated. A closable top section for the carton is also provided which is hingedly connected to the rear wall of the bottom section. The top section includes laterally extending side flaps which are adapted to overlap and interlock with the end walls of the bottom section. The apparatus, in one embodiment, comprises elongated guide means having a first portion which is adapted to engage and retain the top section side fiaps in a predetermined first plane. A carton-conveying means is provided which is adapted to move the carton with the bottom section rear Wall thereof in a leading position in a direction generally lengthwise of the guide means. During a first segment of travel of the carton-conveying means, the carton bottom section is supported in a plane substantially parallel to the predetermined first plane and during a second segment of travel, the carton bottom section is supported in a plane angularly disposed relative to said first plane. The carton, when in a third segment of travel, has the bottom section thereof supported in a plane substantially parallel to the predetermined first plane. The guide means also includes a second portion, which is adapted to eifect folding of the top section side flaps into a plane angularly disposed relative to said predetermined first plane whereby said side flaps are in overlapping relation with respect to the bottom section end walls, when the carton-conveying means is moving through a second segment of travel. The guide means second portion effects interlocking relation between the folded side flaps and the bottom section end walls, when the carton-conveying means is moving from the said second to the third segment of travel.

For a more complete understanding of this invention reference should be made to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one form of the improved apparatus taken from the infeed station thereof.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the carton-conveying means thereof disposed in its first segment of travel.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but showing the cartonconveying means in its second segment of travel and with a carton being conveyed thereby.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but showing the cartonconveying means in its third segment of travel and with a carton being conveyed thereby.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus looking rearwardly toward the infeed end thereof and showing one form of the carton-conveying means in its first segment of travel.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 but showing the backside of the carton-conveying means when the latter is in its first segment of travel.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, showing the backside of the carton-conveying means thereof, when the latter is disposed in its second segment of travel.

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 6 but showing the cartonconveying means disposed in its third segment of travel.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the front side of a modified form of carton-conveying means.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the rear side of the modified form of the carton-conveying means shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of the loading station shown in FIG. 1 which cooperates with the infeed station of the apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view showing a carton in the various segments of travel through the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, a carton 10, in this instance an elongated donut box, is shown positioned at a loading station A wherein the product (donuts) is placed either manually or mechanically within the carton. The loading station, as illustrated in FIG. 1, includes an elongated table-like surface upon which the carton is placed. Formed in surface 100 is an elongated slot 101 which extends substantially the full length of the surface. Disposed within slot 101 is a segment of a driven endless chain 102 which is mounted beneath the surface. The chain is provided with a plurality of projecting lugs 103 arranged at predetermined spaced intervals therealong. The lugs, when adjacent the surface 100, extend upwardly through slot 101 and are adapted to engage one end of the lower section 11 of the carton, resting on the surface, and cause the carton to be moved endwise toward the infeed station B of the apparatus. Loading station A is provided with suitable plows and guides 104 for effecting partial closing of the carton top 12 as the carton moves along surface 100 toward station B.

In FIG. 11 a slightly modified form of loading station A is shown, wherein the surface 100' is inclined at a slight angle and has extending perpendicularly upwardly from the lower edge thereof a flange 100a against which the rear wall 11b of the carton bottom section 11 rests.

Patented July 14., 196.4,

The purpose of the inclination is that as the product (donuts) is placed into the bottom section 11 of the carton through the open top thereof, the product will automatically slide, due to gravity, against the back wall 111) of said bottom section and thus a space will be provided between the accommodated product and the inside surface of the front wall 11a of the bottom section so as to readily permit an elongated front flap 12a formed on the carton top section 12 to be mechanically or manually inserted into said space during closing of the carton. Thus, by reason of the space provided between the accommodated product and the front wall of the bottom section of the carton no scuffing or damage to such product will occur as the cover front flap is moved into closing position. A slot 101' is likewise formed in surface 100 to accommodate a segment of chain 102 and the lug 103 carried thereby so as to enable the carton to be moved endwise by the lug.

It will be noted in FIGS. 1 and 11 that the front and rear walls 11a and b, respectively, of the carton bottom section 11 are interconnected by a pair of opposite upstanding narrow side or end walls 11c. The end walls 11c are formed, in this instance, by interlocking of overlapping end fiaps 11d and He foldably connected to the'end limits of the front and rear walls, respectively, of the bottom section and a flap 11f foldably connected to end limit of the base wall of the carton bottom section. The end flaps 11d and 112 cooperate with flap 11 to form a pocket 11g, the function of which will be described more fully hereinafter. Flap 11 is oftentimes referred to as a dust flap and is disposed between the end flaps 11d and 112 and the accommodated product when the carton is set up and filled. In addition to providing greater dust protection for the product, the flap 11f prevents scufiing of the end face of the end product during interlocking of flaps 11d and 11c and closing of the cover section 12.

The top section 12 is provided, in addition to tuck flap 12a, with a pair of laterally extending end flaps 121), which, as hereinafter described, are adapted to be folded into overlapping and interlocking relation with respect to the bottom section end walls 11c.

In carton 10, as shown, there is provided in the top section thereof a cutout 120 which also extends into the rear wall 11b so as to permit the contents of the carton to be readily inspected by a customer at the time of purchase of the filled carton. A piece of transparent material is affixed in registered relation with the cutout 12c and thus protects the contents of the carton from dirt, dust, or other foreign matter.

The carton 10, after being loaded at Station A or A is moved endwise by a chain lug 103 and during such movement the flap 12a is first tucked behind front wall 11a and then the top section 12 automatically plowed or folded down into overlying or partial closing relation with respect to the top of the bottom section 11. Upon the carton leaving the loading station, it enters the infeed Station B of the improved apparatus. Infeed Station B is provided with an endless conveyor belt 15 which continues endwise movement of the carton in a substantially horizontal plane until the carton abuts a stop switch 16, see FIGS. 1 and 3 or some other suitable device which is either mechanically or electrically actuated. Upon the carton abutting switch 16, the latter effects actuation of a pusher or transfer assembly 17 which in turn moves the conveyed carton transversely off the conveyor belt 15 and onto a plurality of spaced substantially parallel hori- Zontally disposed supporting rods 21. In FIGS. 1 and 3 such rods constitute a pair; while in FIG. 9, four such rods 21 are shown. The number of such rods will depend in part at least on the length of carton being handled by the apparatus. The assembly 17, as shown in FIG. 1, constitutes a hydraulically actuated rod 17a mounted for reciprocatory movement. It should be understood, however, that the assembly may take various other forms from that shown without departing from the scope of this 4 invention. The rod 17a is adapted to be retracted into a cylinder 18 which is rigidly held in position by a bracket 20 attached to the supporting frame 48 of the apparatus. Once the pusher rod has been retracted into cylinder 18, the transferred carton supported on rods 21 is picked up by a carrier unit 22 or 22', see FIGS. 5 or 9.

In either form of carrier unit there is provided a bottom portion 23 or 23 which subtends and supports the carton and is pivotally connected at its front edge or margin to a transversely extending rod 24. The opposite ends of rod 24 are supported by lugs 25, which in turn are linked to endless chains 26 and 27. Each of the chains are power driven at the same speed from a common source, not shown. Chain 26 engages sprockets 28a and 2812, see FIG. 4, while chain 27 is adapted to engage sprockets 39a and 30b. The corresponding sprockets 28a3tia and 2612-36!) are keyed to common shafts which in turn are supported by bearings carried on frame 48. The chains 26 and 27 are adapted to carry in a like manner a plurality of relatively spaced carrier units 22 or 22' all of which are of like configuration to that as shown in FIGS. 5 through 8 or 9 and 10.

Each carrier unit 22, see FIG. 5, also includes a flange 31 which extends upwardly from the rear or trailing edge of bottom portion 23. The upper end segment 31a of flange 31 is angularly offset forwardly a slight amount as seen in FIG. 5. This offset segment 31a facilitates a smoother initial engagement or contact between the carton supported on rods 21 and the carrier unit as the latter moves forwardly in a direction transversely away from belt 15 of the infeed station E. The flange 31 is provided with a pair of open end slots 32 which are adapted to accommodate the free ends of the support rods 21 as the carrier unit moves into position for engagement with the carton resting upon such rods. The carrier unit approaches the supported carton from below as the chains 26 and 27 are moved around the peripheries of sprockets 28a and 30a respectively. The direction of movement of the chains is indicated by arrows in FIG. 5.

Flange 31, as seen in FIG. 5, is provided with a first pair of openings 33 through which project lugs 34 mounted on the rear surface of such flange, see FIG. 6. The function of these lugs 34 will be described more fully hereinafter, as will also be the case of a second pair of openings 35 formed in flange 31, see FIG. 5. At the forward, or leading edge of bottom portion 23 is formed a cutout 36 in which are disposed a pair of pad-like members 37. Members 37 are pivotally mounted on rod 24 by bearing pieces 38. The free ends of rod 24 project beyond, or outwardly of, the lugs 25 linked to chains 26 and 27 and have keyed thereto followers 40 and 41 which are adapted to effect independent pivotal movement of members 37 for purposes to be described more fully hereinafter as the carton is moved forwardly by the carrier unit.

As seen in FIG. 6 there is pivotally mounted on the back side of flange 31 a pair of fingers 42, the upper ends of which are adapted to project through the openings 35 when the fingers are pivoted in one direction. Fingers 42 are mounted on a transversely extending rod 43 carried by bearing lugs 44 on the back side of flange 31. The rod 43 is adapted to rotate or pivot about its longitudinal axis. At one end of rod 43 is keyed a first follower 45a, and at the opposite end is keyed a second follower 45b. The purpose of these followers is to control the rotational movement of rod 43 and likewise the position of fingers 42 relative to the openings 35.

Secured to the under side of bottom portion 23 of the carrier unit 22 is a roller type follower 46 which is adapted to engage an elongated cam track 47. The cam track 47 is of tortuous configuration and consists of a substantially rectilinear first segments 47a (see FIG. 12), which is disposed in a predetermined plane, normally horizontal, and is positioned adjacent support rods 21. A second substantially rectilinear segment 47b of track 47 is provided,

which is recessed from the first predetermined plane and connected to the first segment by an inclined portion 470. Track 47 is also provided with a third substantially rectilinear segment 47d which is preferably disposed substantially coplanar with first segment 47a and is connected to second segment 4712 by a second inclined portion 47e. Thus, as carrier unit 22 is moved by chains 26 and 27 away from the infeed conveyor 15, it will assume various positions by reason of the follower 46 engaging cam track 47 and the manner of connection between the carrier bottom portion 23 and the chains 26 and 27. Cam 47 is secured to supporting frame 48 by suitable brackets 49 (see FIG. 5)

FIGS. 9 and 10, as heretofore mentioned, illustrate a modified form of carrier unit 22', which functions in the same manner as unit 22 previously described. In unit 22', the bottom section 23 thereof is formed of a plurality of spaced sections 23a, 23'b, 23'c, and 23d arranged in coplanar relation and connected at their forward, or leading, ends to a common bearing sleeve 29 which pivots about transverse rod 24 heretofore described. The rear end of each of these spaced sections is interconnected by a transversely extending brace piece 29'. Outwardly disposed sections 23'a and 23'd each have extending upwardly from the rear end thereof a short flange 31a and 31'd. Likewise, sections 23b and 23'c are each provided with an upwardly extending flange 31b or 31'c which is of greater extent than flanges 31a and 31'd. All of these flanges 31a-31d are adapted to engage the trailing front wall 11a of the carton when the unit comes into contact with the rod-supported carton. The spacing between the upwardly extending flanges 3112-31'd is such as to prevent any interference between the support rods 21 and the carrier unit as the latter moves into initial contact with the carton.

Extending downwardly from the underside of brace piece 29 is a roller 46' which is adapted to engage cam track 47 and follow the undulations thereof as the unit is moved by the chains 26 and 27. Disposed on opposite sides of roller 46' and adjustably mounted on the rear surface of flanges 31'b and 31'c are a pair of like lug assemblies 34'. Each assembly includes a guide member 34'a, afiixed to the back surface of the corresponding flange, in which is slidably mounted a rod 347). Projecting transversely from the upper end of rod 34'b is a lug 34'c, the forward end of which projects through a suitable opening 33' formed in flange 31b or 31'c. The lower end of rod 34'b, on the other hand, terminates in a roller-type follower 34'd which is adapted to follow a second cam track 47 one being disposed on each side of cam 47 (see FIG.

Extending rearwardly from each lug 34'c is a pin 34's which is adapted to be engaged by one end of a coil spring 34]. The spring is disposed substantially parallel to rod 34b and has the lower endthereof aflixed to a rearward extension of section 23'b or 23'c and thus, the spring exerts a positive and continuous downward force on rod 34'12 causing follower 34'd to remain in continuous contact with cam track 47'. Tracks 47' are of like undulant configura tion (not shown) whereby, when the carrier unit is passing through segments 47c, 47b, and 47e, the lug 34's will engage the upper edge of the front wall 11a of the carton bottom section 11 and thereby retain said bottom section in proper position on the carrier unit.

Pivotally mounted on rod 24 and disposed intermediate sections 23/2; and 23'c is a spring biased clamp finger 29 which is adapted to contact the rear wall 11b of the carton bottom section 11 and urge the section 11 against the flanges 31'a-d of the carrier unit. When the carrier unit reaches track segment 47d, finger 29 is cammed forwardly by suitable mechanism, not shown, to a horizontal position whereby the carton is free to slide thereacross when the canton is discharge from the carrier unit as the latter approaches the end of track segment 47:1.

Referring to FIG. 3, there are disposed on opposite sides of and above cam 47 pairs of longitudinally arranged guide members 50, 51 and 52. Guides 50 are supported in proximity to rods 21 or 21' and cam track segment 47a by a pair of upright brackets 53, the latter in turn being mounted on adjustable carriage units 54:: and 54b. Carriage units 54a and 54b are disposed on opposite sides of cam track 47 or tracks 47 and 47' and are mounted for simultaneous adjustment toward and away from each other in a manner to be hereinafter discussed. Guides 51 and 52 are likewise supported by a pair of upright brackets 55 which are also mounted on carriage units 54a and 54b. A further pair of brackes 56 are provided for giving added support to guides 52 as seen more clearly in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. Brackets 56 are also mounted on carriage units 54a and 54b and thus all the brackets 53, 55 and 56 are movable simultaneously with the carriage units.

Carriage units 54a and 54b are of like construction and each includes an elongated cross piece or bar 57 on which the aforesaid brackets 53, 55 and 56 are mounted. To the underside of cross piece 57 are mounted a pair of relatively spaced shoe pieces 58 each of which is adapted to be slidably disposed between sets of transversely extending tracks 66. Each set of tracks 64 comprises a pair of spaced substantially parallel bars 69a and 60b which have opposed surfaces thereof provided with kerfs 60c. The kerfs slidably accommodate marginal portions of the corresponding shoe pieces 58 for each cross piece 57. The bars 66a and 6% are secured to the frame 48, and are arranged normal to the direction of travel of the cars rier 22. To permit relative adjustment of the carriage units 54a and 54b an elongated threaded screw 61 is provided which is supported at its opposite ends by bearings 62, the latter being secured to frame 48. Screw 61 has substantially one half the length thereof provided with one set of threads 61a and the other half provided with a second set of threads 61b (see FIG. 7). The lead of each set of threads is opposite to that of the other. Cooperating with the threaded portion 61a and b of the screw 61 are a pair of bracket pieces 63 secured to each of the cross pieces 57. Each bracket 63 has an internally threaded opening which meshes with the adjacent set of threads 61a or 61b formed on screw 61. Thus, upon rotation of the screw 61, the cross pieces 57 of the carriage units 54a and 54b will move simultaneously in opposite directions with respect to one another. To faciliatate adjustment of screw 61, a knob 65 is provided which is keyed to one end 61c thereof, see FIG. 7. Thus, in order to accommodate a carton of any particular size the operator merely has to manually manipulate the knob 65 in a given direction so as to adjust the sets of guides to proper relative positions with respect to the ends of the carton passing therebetween.

Guides 50, which are the first pair of guides engaged by the carton at its infeed end, are substantially parallel to the first segment 47a of the cam track 47 and are spaced so that the end flaps 12b of the carton will be disposed thereover and held in an outwardly extending direction, as the carton is moved by the carrier unit 22 or 22' off the support rods 21 or 21'. The guides 56 terminate in the vicinity of the end portions of guides 51 and at the beginning of cam track segment 47b. The guides 51 serve to plow, or fold downwardly the end flaps of the carton as the car-rier traverses the second segment 47b of the cam track (see positions II and III, FIG. 12.) Subsequent to the folding action by guides 51, the carton top section end flaps 12b are contacted by the third set of guides 52 which cause such flaps to press against the upper parts of the bottom section end wall flaps He. The bottom section 11 of the carton 19, at such time as the flaps 11e are initially engaged by the guides 52, is angularly disposed with respect to the top section 12, in a manner such as shown in position III, FIG. 12. Thus, with the end flaps in such position, they will slidably interlock in pockets 11g formed in the respective end walls as the carrier 22 moves up inclined track portion 47e to segment 47d. Thus at all itmes during the movement of the carton through the apparatus, the top section 12, except for end flaps 12b and the tuck flap 12a, remains in substantially a given plane while the bottom section assumes an angular position during certain segments of travel. It will be noted in FIGS. 3, 11, and 12, that tuck flap 12a is of substantial extent so that it remains in its tucked position behind front wall 11a notwithstanding that the bottom section 11 assumes its angular positions II and III, as seen in FIG. 12, with respect to the top section. In certain box constructions, however, the shape of flap 12a may be different from that shown and in some instances might even be eliminated entirely. Upon the carton reaching the end of cam track segment 47d the carrier unit 22 or 22' :moves the carton onto a pair of spaced substantially parallel elongated support rods 64, see FIG. 4. The end 64:: of the rods, adjacent cam track segment 47d, are tapered so as to facilitate engagement between the leading bottom edge of the carton and the support rods 64. The spacing between the rods 64 is substantially the same as that between infeed rods 21 or 21, so as to permit the flange 31 or flanges 31'a-d of the carrier unit to read ily pass therebetween.

In order to be assured that carton will move smoothly over rod ends 64a, the pad-like elements 37 mounted on the bottom section 23 of unit 22, adjacent the leading edge thereof, are cammed upwardly a slight amount, see carton position V in FIG. 12, whereupon the leading edge of the base of the carton bottom section is tilted upwardly a slight amount out of the way of rod ends 64a.

It will be noted in FIGS. 3 and 7 that while the carton is being moved through track segment 47b, the pad-like elements 37 assume an upright position and thus hold the carton bottom section 11 against the flange 31 of the carrier unit 22. As the unit reaches track segment 47d, the pad-like elements 37 are cammed forwardly until just prior to the leading edge of the carrier bottom portion 23 reaching support rods or platform 64 whereupon follower arm 41, which is keyed to the rod 24 carrying elements 37, strikes an abutment 66, see FIG. 4, causing the elements 37 to be rotated so as to raise the front edge of the carton bottom section above the rod pointed ends 64a.

When utilizing unit 22, the upper faces of sections 23a, 23'11, 23's, and 23'd, are disposed in a plane above the plane of rods 64 and therefore raising the leading bottom edge of the carton is not required, once the clamp finger 29 has been moved forward to a horizontal plane.

The unit 22, as it moves down inclined track segment 470, has the lugs 34 thereof, projecting through openings 33 in flange 31, engaging the upper edge of the front wall 11a of the carton bottom section 11 and thus cause the carton bottom section to assume the same angular position as that of the carrier as the latter traverses track segment 47b.

Fingers 4-2, which are carried on the backside of flange 31, are actuated forwardly by the follower arm 45b striking cam 67, see FIG. 8. Upon the fingers 42 being so actuated, the upper ends thereof project through openings 35 and push forwardly the upper portion of the carton accommodated by the carrier unit and thus free the upper edge of the carton bottom section front wall 11a from engagement with lugs 34. Upon fingers 45 and pad-like elements 37 being actuated in a manner as aforedescribed, just prior to the carrier reaching support rods 64, the carton conveyed by unit 22 is free to slide upon rods 64 as the carrier flange 31 passes therebetween.

In FIG. 12, the sequence of closing the carton is diagrammatically shown. At position I, the carton is being moved off rods 21 by the carrier in the direction of arrow C. The end flaps 12b of the carton are overlying guides 50. At position II, the carton is approaching the center of cam track segment 47b whereupon end flaps 121) have left guides 50 and are engaged by guides 51. Guides 51 are formed into two sections 51a and 5112. Section 51a is a narrow strip which is disposed beneath the fold-line for the end flap 12b. Guide section 51b is disposed on the outside of end flap 12b and causes the latter to be plowed downwardly, as the carrier proceeds along track segment 47b. When the carton reaches position III the end flap 1212 has been folded downwardly into overlapping engagement with the upper portion of end flap 112.

At position IV the carton has reached track segment 4701' at which point each end flap 12b has assumed an interlocking position within pocket 11g formed in the corresponding carton end wall 11c.

Upon the carrier unit 22 reaching position V, the leading rear wall 11b of the carton is tilted upwardly by padlike elements 37 so that the bottom of the carton will clear rod ends 64a and permit the carton to readily slide over rods 64.

While the guides for supporting and folding the end flaps 12b of the carton top have heretofore been described as comprising a plurality of longitudinally disposed sections 50, 51, and 52, it is to be understood, of course, that such guides might be of unitary construction or vary in other respects from that shown. Likewise, the manner of simultaneously adjusting carriage units 54a and b may vary from that shown.

Thus, it will be seen that a method of and apparatus for closing a foldable carton have been provided which are extremely simple and are readily capable of accommodating cartons having dimensions varying over a wide range. The improved apparatus embodies few moving parts and thus the maintenance and servicing thereof are greatly simplified. Furthermore, the folding operation is fully automatic and thus effects material savings in labor costs. The improve apparatus is compact yet sturdy, requires a minimum amount of space, and does not consume a large amount of power with the result that such apparatus is readily suitable for small, as well as large, packaging operations.

While several embodiments of this invention have been described above, further modifications may be made thereto and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for closing a foldable carton, the latter having a bottom section and a top section hingedly connected to a rear wall of such bottom section, such top section having a laterally extending end flap for overlapping and interlocking with a side wall of such bottom section, said apparatus comprising guide means for folding the carton top section end flap into overlapping relation with respect to the carton side wall while substantially the remainder of the carton top section is disposed in a predetermined first plane, and carton bottom section supporting means; one of said means being movable relative to the other; said supporting means being adapted to retain such carton bottom section in a predetermined second plane substantially parallel to said first plane except, when said means are in a predetermined relative position, whereupon said supporting means is adapted to retain such carton bottom section in a predetermined third plane angularly disposed relative to said first predetermined plane, while the carton top section end flap is folded into overlapping relation with the carton side wall.

2. An apparatus for closing a foldable carton, the latter having a bottom section and a top section hingedly connected to a rear wall of such bottom section, such top section having a laterally extending end flap for overlapping and interlocking with a side wall of such bottom section, said apparatus comprising elongated guide means for folding the carton top section end flap into overlapping relation with respect to the carton side wall while the remainder of the carton top section is disposed in a predetermined first plane, and carton bottom section-supporting means being movable longitudinally of said guide means; said supporting means, when in a predetermined position of relative motion, effecting support of the carton bottom section in a predetermined second plane angularly disposed relative to said first plane whereby said guide means effects folding of the carton end flap against the carton side wall and such folded end flap assumes an interlocking relation with the side wall upon said supporting means moving from said predetermined position of relative motion.

3. An apparatus for closing a foldable carton, the latter having a bottom section and a top section hingedly connected to a rear wall of such bottom section, such top section having a laterally extending end flap for overlapping and interlocking with a side wall of such bottom section, said apparatus comprising elongated first guide means for engaging and retaining the top section end flap in a predetermined first plane; carton-conveying means movable in a direction generally lengthwise of said guide means, said conveying means, during a first segment of travel, supporting the carton bottom section in a plane substantially parallel to said first plane, during a second segment of travel, supporting the carton bottom section in a plane angularly disposed relative to said first plane, and during a third segment of travel, supporting the carton bottom section in a plane substantially parallel to said first plane; and second guide means disposed in substantially aligned relation with respect to said first guide means for effecting folding of the top section end flap into overlapping relation with the bottom section side wall when said carton-conveying means is moving through said second segment of travel, and effecting interlocking relation with such bottom section side wall when said carton-conveying means is moving in said third segment of travel.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 3 wherein said cartonconveying means is provided with a leading portion and a trailing portion and the latter is spaced a greater distance from said first plane than said leading portion, when said carton-conveying means is in said second segment of travel.

5. The apparatus recited in claim 4 wherein the trailing portion of said carton-conveying means is provided with a carton abutment.

6. An apparatus for closing a foldable carton, the latter having a bottom section and a top section hingedly connected to a rear wall of such bottom section, such top section having laterally extending end flaps for overlapping and interlocking and respective side walls of such bottom section, said apparatus comprising a pair of elongated first guide means for engaging and retaining the top section end flaps in a predetermined first plane; carton-conveying means mounted for movement intermediate said first guide means and in a direction generally lengthwise thereof, said carton-conveying means, during one segment of travel, supporting the carton bottom section in a plane substantially parallel to said first plane, during a second segment of travel, supporting the carton bottom section in a plane angularly disposed relative to said first plane, and during a third segment of travel, supporting the carton bottom section in a plane substantially parallel to said first plane; and a pair of second guide means substantially aligned with said first guide means for effecting folding of the top section end flaps into overlapping and interlocking engagement with respective side walls of such bottom sections when said carton-conveying means is moving through said second and third segments of travel.

7. The apparatus recited in claim 6 including means for effecting adjustment of the spacing between the guide means of each pair of guide means.

8. The apparatus recited in claim 6 including means for effecting unitary adjustment of all the guide means disposed to one side of said conveying means relative to all the guide means disposed on the other side of said conveying means.

9. An apparatus for closing a foldable carton, the latter having a bottom section and a top section hingedly connected to a rear Wall of such bottom section, such top section having a laterally extending end flap for overlapping and interlocking with a side wall of such bottom section, said apparatus comprising elongated first guide means for engaging and retaining the top section end flap in a predetermined first plane; a carton carrier movable in a direction generally lengthwise of said guide means, said carrier being provided with a base portion for subtending and supporting the carton bottom section and a transversely extending abutment for engaging a front wall of such bottom section, said carrier, during one segment of travel, having the base portion thereof supporting the carton bottom section in a plane substantially parallel to said first plane, during a second segment of travel, having the carrier base portion supporting the carton bottom section in a plane angularly disposed relative to said first plane, and, during a third segment of travel, having the carrier base portion supporting the carton bottom section in a plane substantially parallel to said first plane; protruding means carried on said abutment for engaging the upper edge of the carton front wall, when said carrier is moving through said second segment of travel; and second guide means disposed in substantially aligned relation with respect to said first guide means for effecting folding of the top section end flap into overlapping relation with the bottom section side wall when said carrier is in said second segment of travel, and effecting interlocking relation with such bottom section side wall, when said carrier is in said third segment of travel.

10. The apparatus recited in claim 9 including support means disposed adjacent the terminus of travel of said carrier through said third segment of travel and upon which the conveyed carton is deposited, and cam means carried on the base portion of said carrier for raising of the leading edge of the bottom section of the conveyed carton from said carrier base portion prior to such carton being deposited upon said support means.

11. An apparatus for closing a foldable carton, the latter having a bottom section and a top section hingedly connected to a rear wall of such bottom section, such top section having laterally extending end flaps for overlapping and interlocking with respective side walls of such bottom section, said apparatus comprising a pair of elongated sectional guide means arranged in spaced substantially parallel relation, one of said guide means section engaging and retaining the top section end flaps in a predetermined first plane, and a second guide means section folding such top section end flaps into overlapping relation with the upper exposed surface portions of the respective side walls of such bottom sections; and carton-conveying means mounted for movement intermediate said guide means and in a direction generally lengthwise thereof, said carton-conveying means, during one segment of travel, supporting the carton bottom section in a plane substantially parallel to said first plane, during a second segment of travel, supporting the carton bottom section in a plane angularly disposed to said first plane, and during a third segment of travel, supporting the carton bottom section in a plane substantially parallel to said first plane; said carton-conveying means, when in said second segment of travel, being adjacent said second guide means section.

12. An apparatus for closing a foldable carton, the latter having a bottom section and a top section hingedly connected to a rear wall of such bottom section, such top section having laterally extending end flaps for overlapping and interlocking with respective side wall of such bottom section, said apparatus comprising a receiving support means, discharge support means spaced from said receiving support means, a pair of guide means arranged in spaced substantially parallel relation and spanning substantially the distance between said support means, one portion of said guide means, adjacent said receiving support means, being adapted to engage and retain the top section end flap in a predetermined first Eli plane, and a second portion of said guide means being adapted to fold such top section end flaps into overlapping relation with respective side walls of such bottom section, and a third portion of said guide means being adapted to urge the folded top section end fiaps against the respective side walls of the carton bottom section; and carton-conveying means mounted for movement from said receiving support means to said discharge support means and between said guide means, said conveying means including a base portion for supporting and subtending the bottom section of a conveyed carton, and an abutment extending transversely from said base portion for engaging the carton bottom section front wall, said conveying means, during a first segment of travel, being adjacent said guide means first portion and adapted to effect movement of a carton away from said receiving support means and support the bottom section of such moved carton in a plane substantially parallel to said first plane, during a second segment of travel, said conveying means being adjacent said guide means second section and adapted to effect support of such carton bottom section in a plane angularly disposed to said first plane, and during a third segment of travel, said conveying means being adjacent said guide means third section and adapted to effect support of such carton bottom section in a plane substantially parallel to said first plane and deposit the carton onto said discharge support means.

13. The apparatus recited in claim 12 including carton infeed means being movable in a direction angularly disposed With respect to the movement of said cartonconveying means, and, transverse moving means disposed in adjacent said receiving support means and intermittently actuatable for transferring a carton from said infced means to said receiving support means.

14. The apparatus recited in claim 13 including control means for regulating actuation of said transverse moving means, said control means being disposed adjacent the path of movement of said carton infeed means and being actuated by a carton being moved by said carton infeed means.

15. A method of closing a foldable carton wherein the latter is provided with a bottom section having front and rear walls and interconnecting side walls and a top section hingedly connected to the bottom section rear wall and having laterally extending end flaps, the bottom section side Walls being provided with open end pockets, said method including initially supporting the carton top section and end flaps thereof in a predetermined plane and pivoting the carton bottom section in one direction away from said predetermined plane, folding the top section end flaps into overlapping relation with upper exposed surface portions of the respective side walls of the carton bottom section and spaced from the open ends of the side wall pockets while the remainder of the top section remains in said predetermined plane, and pivoting the carton bottom section in the opposite direction toward the carton top section whereby the folded top section end flaps pass through the pocket open ends and interlock with the respective bottom section side wall.

No references cited, 

15. A METHOD OF CLOSING A FOLDABLE CARTON WHEREIN THE LATTER IS PROVIDED WITH A BOTTOM SECTION HAVING FRONT AND REAR WALLS AND INTERCONNECTING SIDE WALLS AND A TOP SECTION HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE BOTTOM SECTION REAR WALL AND HAVING LATERALLY EXTENDING END FLAPS, THE BOTTOM SECTION SIDE WALLS BEING PROVIDED WITH OPEN END POCKETS, SAID METHOD INCLUDING INITIALLY SUPPORTING THE CARTON TOP SECTION AND END FLAPS THEREOF IN A PREDETERMINED PLANE AND PIVOTING THE CARTON BOTTOM SECTION IN ONE DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID PREDETERMINED PLANE, FOLDING THE TOP SECTION END FLAPS INTO OVERLAPPING RELATION WITH UPPER EXPOSED SURFACE PORTIONS OF THE RESPECTIVE SIDE WALLS OF THE CARTON BOTTOM SECTION AND SPACED FROM THE OPEN ENDS OF THE SIDE WALL POCKETS WHILE THE REMAINDER OF THE TOP SECTION REMAINS IN SAID PREDETERMINED PLANE, AND PIVOTING THE CARTON BOTTOM SECTION IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TOWARD THE CARTON TOP SECTION WHEREBY THE FOLDED TOP SECTION END FLAPS PASS THROUGH THE POCKET OPEN ENDS AND INTERLOCK WITH THE RESPECTIVE BOTTOM SECTION SIDE WALL. 